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2014ALUMNI, STAFF AND FRIENDS

MALAYSIAN ALUMNI FOCUS

QUEEN’S ANNIVERSARY PRIZE

GRADUATE ENTREPRENEURS

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1. QS World Rankings 20132. The Times Higher Education 100 Universities Under 50 20133. The Telegraph 20134. Higher Education Statistics Authority 20135. National Student Survey 20136. The Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2014

TOP 2.5% of global higher education institutions

Ranked

1stIN SCOTLAND

TOP12 in the UK for graduate employability

SCOTLAND’SUNIVERSITYfor sportingexcellence

1. 2.

3.

94%

97%

of Stirling graduates

are in employment or further study within six months of graduating

student satisfaction with campus environment

6th 4.

5.

HIGH QUALITY

STAFF/

6.

3rd in UK for good sports facilities6.

in the UK for

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The Stirling Fund is the collective effort of Stirling alumni and friends

De-stress WeekThis formed part of a University-wide initiative to promote good mental health and wellbeing on campus. The Stirling Fund supported the costs of delivering these events and activities for students.

Richard Raymond, Vice-President for Education & Engagement, said of the project’s grant: “Without funding we would not be able to provide such a variety of activities and materials for students. We are very grateful that the Stirling Fund accepted our application and continues to support student-led initiatives, especially around the mental health and wellbeing of the student body.”

THE IMPACT OF THE STIRLING FUND

Lift OffLift Off, a project run by the Career Development Centre (CDC) received Stirling Fund support for a series of interactive confidence building workshops. Students were provided with a toolkit of lifelong skills that will enable them to meet challenges head on and develop transferable employability skills. Lesley Grayburn, joint Head of the CDC, said: “Participating students have demonstrated a higher level of self-value, are more self-aware, have more effective communication skills and are more positive about their future as Stirling graduates.”

Politics SocietyA group of students and members of the Politics Society recently embarked on a cultural, political and historical visit to Berlin thanks to support from the Stirling Fund. Highlights included the Jewish museum, the site of the Berlin wall and the DDR museum. Heather Marr, President of the Politics Society commented: “I would like to thank the Stirling Fund donors on behalf of all of those who visited Berlin; it was a truly memorable experience.”

Stirling graduates have donated almost £325,000 to the Stirling Fund which has made an enormous impact on student life. The funds have helped alleviate student hardship, facilitated international exchanges and supported student clubs and societies. Here are some of the projects funded in the last 12 months.

We are very grateful to all of our donors. Other projects funded include the purchase of a golf scoreboard and underwater hockey goals; start-up costs for the gaming society; and IDEALS Zambia, an initiative enabling nursing and sports students to provide educational and healthcare support to young people in Zambia.Thank you!

“ Thanks to a Santander Universities mobility grant, I was able to travel to Patagonia to begin my research.” James BlaikieMobility grant recipient

The University of Stirling and Santander Universities Global Division began working together in March 2012. In the last two years our partnership has benefitted over 100 students and staff providing 12 scholarships, 45 mobility grants, 45 internships and £30,000 in enterprise funding.

For more information go to: www.santander.co.uk/universities

www.stirlingminds.stir.ac.uk / 3

Royal recognition, an emotional graduation 'ace' from local hero Andy Murray, and an international student recruitment initiative which cements Stirling's reputation as a global player in higher education – three highlights of another vintage year for the University. This year's edition of Stirling Minds is packed with information about your alma mater, news about your friends and fellow graduates, and details of how you can keep in touch with us and support the next generation of students. The award of the Queen's Anniversary Prize, at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace, is further recognition of the importance of Stirling’s research to society. The award was for the Institute for Social Marketing's work on the impact of tobacco, alcohol and food marketing on young people's health. Read about it on page 11. Catch up too on news from alumni who are making a difference in the world – and keep us up to date with what you are doing. See pages 27 to 31. As well as Stirling Minds, we produce e-newsletters in spring, autumn and winter. Make sure we have your up-to-date email address so you can receive them. Email [email protected] Let me know what you think of Stirling Minds, your comments are really valuable. Complete and return the mailing sheet or contact me at [email protected]. Every comment is read.

With best wishes,

Kerry BrysonDirector of Development & External Affairs

4 NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Latest campus developments

8 ANDY MURRAY Honorary degree awarded

11 QUEEN’S ANNIVERSARY PRIZE For the Institute for Social Marketing

14 STIRLING ATHLETES SET FOR GLASGOW Commonwealth Games

16 ENTREPRENEURIAL FOCUS Showcasing Stirling’s graduates

20 NEW QUARTET ON CAMPUS Quartet in residence

21 STIRLING’S ARCHIVES

22 JAPANESE WEEK Celebrating food, culture and music

24 RESEARCH WITH IMPACT Impact Fellowship Programme

26 ALUMNI MENTORING PROGRAMME For Arts and Humanities students

27 CLASS NOTES Find your friends

33 UNIVERSITY COURT

33 ALUMNI AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR

34 MAKING THEIR MARK Graduates tell their story

36 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Staff you may remember

40 EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY Let us entertain you

42 THE STIRLING FUND Donations and developments

contents

WELCOME

Produced by Development & External Affairs.Design: www.mortonward.co.ukContributors: Shumela Ahmed, Kerry Bryson, Fraser Clarke, Lindsey Donald, Jennifer Forman, David Haines, Marius Haugen, Suzie Huggins, Sabine Kurz, Elizabeth Parker and Helen Tabel.Printer: SterlingPhotography: Mark Ferguson (cover), Zoe Birkbeck, Bob Dale Photography, British Triathlon, Marius Haugen, Elaine Livingstone, Ian MacNicol, Scottish Swimming, Tom Main, Jamie Moore and Michael Rea.

This publication can be made available in different formats. Contact Development & External Affairs for further information on [email protected]

The University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA is recognised as a Scottish Charity with number SC 011159.

4 / STIRLING MINDS / Alumni, Staff and Friends

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS01 Internationalisation partnership

The University of Stirling and INTO University Partnerships have announced a new joint venture to create two world-class international study centres in Stirling and London. The centres will provide a range of academic and English language preparation courses for international students. Teaching began in June 2014. Programmes on offer at the Stirling campus include General English, Academic English, International Foundation, International Diploma and International Graduate Diploma courses, together with pre-sessional and in-sessional support. Students who successfully complete the preparation courses will be able to progress to undergraduate or postgraduate degree programmes at the University. The London centre will offer a range of Master’s degrees including Business and Management, Finance and TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) in addition to a wide range of English Language courses. The London centre will also provide validation services for Master’s degrees offered by the London Academy of Diplomacy.For more information, visit www.stir.ac.uk/into

The Chairman of INTO University Partnerships Andrew Colin (left) and Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Gerry McCormac.

02 Most improved student experienceThe University of Stirling has won the Most

Improved Student Experience award at the 2013 Times Higher Education Awards. Between October 2012 and June 2013, student market research specialists YouthSight asked students to rate their university on 21 features including academic reputation, teaching, social life and facilities. Stirling climbed 39 places in comparison to the previous year’s poll. Kyla Steenhart, Associate Director at YouthSight, said: “Stirling's campus feel clearly resonates with its students. The institution scored particularly well on having a good environment on campus and centralised, convenient facilities and also scored well on having good sports facilities. “Stirling's achievements were also recognised on Times Higher Education's recent ‘100 Under 50’ university rankings, where it ranked as the number one university under 50 years of age in Scotland.”

01 02 Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerry McCormac and Kerry Bryson,

Director of Development & External Affairs accept the award.


03Two stunning new sculptures ‘Where is the 4th Dimension?’ is located

outside the Cottrell Building. The piece – in Lasa marble on a black granite plinth – was created by Scottish sculptor Kate Thomson. A second piece – ‘Bijin’ by Thomson’s partner artist Hironori Katagiri – is located in the Japanese sculpture courtyard at the Pathfoot Building. ‘Bijin’ was inspired by a series of Japanese Ukiyoe portraits: ‘Bijin’ means beautiful and elegant lady in Japanese. Both artists have created other works on show around the University’s main Stirling campus.Jane Cameron, the University’s Art Curator, said: “We’re delighted to welcome these new additions to our art collection. They add to the stunning landscapes we have around the University campus – and we encourage people to come on site and see them.” To find out more about the sculptures (and other art) on show at Stirling, visit www.artcol.stir.ac.uk

04Arrow of God at 50: A celebration of the life and work of Chinua Achebe

On a warm Wednesday in May, we saluted the life of Chinua Achebe, a man whose literary canon is of global significance. An acclaimed novelist, poet and critic, Achebe was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor by the University of Stirling in 1974 and since then, Achebe’s literary merit has been acknowledged and honoured by numerous organisations across the world. His first novel Things Fall Apart remains the most widely read book in modern African literature and our event celebrated Achebe’s life and the 50th anniversary of his highly acclaimed novel Arrow of God. The event concluded with the launch of the University’s House of Words initiative, a long-term vision to celebrate art and literature throughout the campus.

03

Jane Cameron (left) with Kate Thomson and her sculpture ‘Where is the 4th Dimension?’

04 From left to right: Dr John McCracken, Emeritus Professor Angela Smith, Mr James Currey, Professor John Gardner, Dr Mpalive Msiska, Professor David Murphy and Ms Mara Menzies.


> News Highlights. Continued.

05Bloody. Brutal. BannockburnA week of activities took place at the end

of June to mark the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. Academics and history lovers attended a conference with speakers from the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland and explored the run-up to the famous battle in 1314. The event was organised by the University of Stirling and the Strathmartine Trust. One of the speakers was Scott McMaster, a Stirling graduate and property manager at the new Battle of Bannockburn Heritage Centre.

06All bets are offThe ever-popular Dumyat Hill Race saw more

than 320 runners don their trainers in May. In 1972, a student won a £1 bet with a Psychology Lecturer after proving the return trip from the University Sports Centre to the top of the Dumyat was achievable in less than an hour, setting a time of 57 minutes.

Today, the record for the 390m climb across 8km of tough terrain stands at 32 minutes and 23 seconds, set by Murray Strain. Former World Mountain Running Champion and Stirling alumna Angela Mudge is the women’s record holder with a time of 36 minutes and 36 seconds. The Dumyat shield went to 24-year-old Tom Martyn in a time of 35 minutes and 17 seconds, bettering his third place finish last year. In the women’s race, Christina Rankin, from Kilbarchan, prevailed in a time of 41 minutes and 43 seconds. First Stirling runner across the finish line was Economics Research Fellow Dave Eiser (38.35) racing Dumyat for the sixth consecutive year. Hot on his heels was his training colleague Stephen Winter (38.45), a Programmer and Analyst in the Business Systems, Development and Support Office, whilst Iain Gilmore (39.47) was the first Stirling student across the line.

06

The serious race kicks off (top) and fun runners add colour (bottom).


07Honorary graduatesCharles Jencks received the award of

Doctor of the University in recognition of his outstanding contribution to modern Scottish architecture and sculpture and for his co-founding of the Maggie’s Centres for cancer sufferers. The award of Doctor of the University was conferred on Sir Craig Reedie in recognition of his outstanding contribution to sport and the Olympics. Journalist Melanie Reid received the award of Doctor of the University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to journalism, to disability rights and awareness, and for her inspirational example of human resilience and dignity. Mark Cousins received the award of Doctor of the University in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Scottish cinematic culture and the reception of global cinemas across Scotland.

08RATE awards 2014Over 900 Stirling students recognised

the quality of teaching provided by their tutors, supervisors and lecturers by nominating staff in the Recognising Achievement in Teaching Excellence (RATE) scheme.

Congratulations to: John Gavin (Nursing, Midwifery and Health); Emma Lyons (Sport); Sarah-Jane McCormick (Arts and Humanities); James Bradley (Education); Markus Kittler (Management School); Rona Woodward (Applied Social Science); Tim Whalley (Natural Sciences); Annetta Smith (Nursing, Midwifery and Health) – Postgrad Supervision award; Linda Campbell (Social Science) – Support Staff award and May McCreaddie (Nursing, Midwifery and Health) – Most Inspirational Teacher award.

09Women in sport conferenceThe Students’ Union will deliver an inaugural

‘Women in Sport’ conference on 8 October at the macrobert arts centre. Scottish Government Minister for Sport and the Commonwealth Games, Shona Robison MSP, will open the conference for over 300 delegates. Alumna Susan Egelstaff (GB Olympic Badminton Player) has also confirmed her participation at the event.

07

09Clockwise from top left: Charles Jencks, Sir Craig Reedie, Melanie Reid and Mark Cousins.

Sports Union representatives at the NUS awards.

08Linda Campbell accepts her award from Professor John Gardner (left) and Richard Raymond (VP Education & Engagement).


Andy Murray accepts home honoursBy Stuart KennySports and music editor for Brig Newspaper.

This article appeared in the May edition of Brig.

he triumphant music was resonating, the robes were out in number and Pathfoot was packed

out with much more than just the usual bunch of students being driven delirious by deadlines. The local hero had returned. This time around it wasn’t a golden post box or a historic Grand Slam title that cued the celebratory proceedings around the Dunblane-born Andy Murray though. Rather, this was the turn of Stirling to give something back to the man who had ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a home-grown Wimbledon champion last summer: namely, an honorary doctorate and the freedom of the city. “I am honoured and very grateful to receive this award from the University of Stirling, an institution which is recognised internationally for its sports research and facilities,” said the national talisman when presented with his honour. “I trained on the courts at the Scottish National Tennis Centre at the University of Stirling when I was growing up and I remember playing against the students which was great fun. There are many talented players practising there every day and I would encourage them to keep working hard.” It was an emotional moment for the sportsman known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, and after winning the second Grand Slam of his career at SW19 last year, he will be looking to

Tpush on now to claim one of the remaining three major titles still up for grabs this year. The French Open is the next headline showdown on Murray’s schedule, and the athlete is currently getting in some practice on the clay surface ahead of Roland Garros as he fights his way towards the final in the Madrid Open. After undergoing minor surgery on his back last September though, the Scotsman knows it will be a big ask to bounce right back into Grand Slam contention later this month, but he is adamant that he is progressing on the right lines to get back to his battling best. When asked how his game was progressing ahead of the big event in Paris, he said: “It’s getting there. Obviously I had the surgery at the end of last year so the first few tournaments were always going to be tough, but I feel like I’m getting there. “I’ve done some pressing on clay and went on to Valencia to practise for another ten days before Madrid, and I’m looking forward to the French Open. I’ve been playing well in practice so I just need to bring that on to the match court. “The first few months were never going to be easy coming back from surgery, as I’ve never experienced it before. I hope I can finish the year well though. There are a lot of big tournaments coming up, so it’s important that I get myself in form.”


“I am honoured and very grateful to receive this award from the University of Stirling, an institution which is recognised internationally for its sports research and facilities.”


With a journey to Rome’s Italian Open providing the final preparation for Murray before he makes the trip to Roland Garros, there is time remaining yet for the star to get back to full throttle and challenge in France. Whether it be Paris, Rome or Madrid though, the Scotsman revealed that he is persistently motivated by the support that he receives from his hometown of Dunblane, from Stirling, from the Scottish nation and from beyond in Britain. “When I travel around playing I don’t get to see the home support as much but when I do come back it is great,” he said. “It’s hugely motivating. “My family remind me when I’m going around the world that the support that I get from around here is unbelievable. It makes a big difference to me and helps get me back in the gym and back on the practice courts.” Murray will be looking to build on from this motivation to succeed in France as he looks to get his season back into full flow following the long road to recovery after back surgery. Now playing without pain and on the back of promising practise sessions off the court and pleasing performances on it, there is no doubt that the tennis star will be back in contention on the big occasions. Clay may not be his favourite surface and the athlete may not have historically succeeded as well in France as he has in England, Australia or across the pond, but a good performance here could well lay the way for a strong performance at Wimbledon – a tournament where the player has consistently impressed through the years.

As always, the Dunblane and Stirling ranks will be cheering Andy on all the way, and while he may be still re-finding his best form going into Roland Garros, the athlete will have one thing going for him in the tournament that he has never had before – a doctorate from the University of Stirling. Our alumni do have pretty good post-graduation success stats after all. Best of luck, then, to Dr Andrew Barron Murray OBE. The Scottish backing will be a fervent as ever.

“When I travel around playing I don’t get to see the home support as much but when I do come back it is great.”

Stuart Kenny (centre) and Brig team with

Andy Murray.

> Andy Murray accepts home honours. Continued.


University wins prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education

Ceremony at Buckingham Palace recognises the University for its ground-breaking social marketing research >


he Institute for Social Marketing (ISM) focused its research on the effects of tobacco, alcohol and food marketing

on young people’s health, and also examined the effectiveness of policies designed to protect public health by introducing controls on such marketing. Recent research conducted by the ISM has investigated the plain packaging of cigarettes and marketing techniques used to promote e-cigarettes to young people. Gerard Hastings, Professor of Social Marketing, explained the findings that led to the University being awarded the prestigious prize: “Our research has shown that children must be protected from the commercial marketing of alcohol, tobacco and junk food, and has enabled national and international policy makers to respond accordingly. It has also protected policy makers from legal attacks by multinationals with a vested interest in these markets.”

T Professor Linda Bauld, Professor of Health Policy and Director of the Institute for Social Marketing, said: “The award provides us with added impetus to keep conducting high quality research that has a direct impact on policy and practice in the UK and internationally. For example, we are now exploring new priority areas for public health like e-cigarettes and alcohol promotion in digital media.” Professor Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: “It is a great honour to accept the Queen’s Anniversary Prize on behalf of the University. “Receiving this highly prestigious award for the first time is a landmark accomplishment for the University and recognises the hard work and commitment shown by all of our staff in the Institute for Social Marketing.” To celebrate this achievement, alumni and guests of the Institute for Social Marketing were invited to a reception held at the Lansdowne Club in London. The Chancellor, Dr James Naughtie and Professor McCormac were the hosts for the evening and Professor Gerard Hastings introduced a film produced by Stirling graduate Michael Rea, (BA (Hons) Film & Media Studies, 2000) to showcase the Institute’s work.

> University wins prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize. Continued.

“Receiving this highly prestigious award for the first time is a landmark accomplishment for the University and recognises the hard work and commitment shown by all of our staff in the Institute for Social Marketing.”


Images from Buckingham

Palace can be found at:

http://stir.ac.uk/i6

See the film at:

http://vimeo.com/86902954

Images from the Lansdowne

Club can be found at:

http://stir.ac.uk/i7


Stirling athletes all set for Glasgow

Sian Harkin is a current student at the University and will be one of ten Stirling Swimmers competing at the 2014 Games. Originally from Plymouth, the 19-year-old is the reigning British Champion and Scottish National record holder for 50m Butterfly. Harkin believes it is no surprise that so many athletes have been chosen for the squad from Stirling. “I think ten Stirling swimmers have been selected for many reasons. One of the most important reasons in my opinion is that we are all training with people who are heading in the same direction. “Every single one of my team mates has a great attitude and we have amazing support staff which help us get through training.” The student is excited by the prospect of her first major event and is hungry for medal success. “My goal is to achieve a medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, however I would still be extremely happy with making the finals in my main events – the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle – as this is my first international competition representing Scotland.”

David McNamee, an Accountancy graduate, is now one of the top 20 triathletes in the world. After training with the famous Brownlee brothers at the Satellite Centre in Leeds, David is now back in Stirling, a place that holds fond memories for him. “I really enjoyed my five years at Stirling. The campus and the surrounding areas are a great training venue for triathlon. “The University has a great atmosphere and allowed me to combine my degree with my sporting pursuits. My five years went by in a flash.” The 26-year-old won silver in 2011 at the World Under-23 Championships in Beijing and says it was “an incredible experience” that will stay with him “for the rest of his life”. Despite breaking his wrist earlier this year, McNamee is still confident of medal success this summer. “My wrist is back to being about 80% strength-wise so hopefully will be back to normal by the games. “It’s been tough getting fit again but I feel I'm on track to deliver at the games. In Glasgow, I will be aiming to get on the podium.”

A number of athletes from the University are competing for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.

We caught up with two of them as they put their final preparations in place, as they bid to get amongst the medals in Glasgow.

As the magazine went to print we wished our athletes the very best at the Commonwealth Games.


Jodie HughesBA (Hons) Business Studies 2011Project Co-ordinator, Chayn

tudying at Stirling, I always had in mind that I wanted to start my own business. I was quick

to join the Enterprise Society and found the University to be a great environment for business. I also took advantage of the Student Enterprise Incubator based at Stirling University Innovation Park. While studying, I fulfilled a dream by starting a business producing health cards. It’s about making it easier for people with food intolerances to eat in restaurants. It wasn’t a new idea, but we made them credit card-sized and translated the information into several languages. It was a great way of learning how to go about doing business in real life. After selling my stake in that business I bought Adspad, a student marketing and advertising company. I was a finalist in the UK-wide Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards for my work with Adspad – I was delighted just to be nominated by the Student Enterprise Manager, Alasdair Gammack. The prize money went back into the business. When I graduated, I wanted to gain experience right away. I initially joined Innocent Drinks, before moving to a relatively new company called Mallow and Marsh (yes, they produce marshmallows!) to help establish their processes. Then I moved to a small charity called Chayn, which supports victims of domestic violence in

Pakistan. Working with the Foreign Office, I’m responsible for co-ordinating the whole project. What has been important for me in trying to find work and develop myself, is finding people who inspire me. It might sound a bit cheesy, but my mum and dad have been very important. My dad has always been really helpful in giving me career advice. I think this is something that most graduates should think about – finding people who can help you achieve what you want. You should try to get as much experience as possible. Join a big company, (rather than a start-up) as they will usually have more resources and be better placed to help you. What it all comes down to is that it takes hard work to achieve your goals.”

S

“What has been important for me in trying to find work and develop myself, is finding people who inspire me.”

“

Entrepreneurial FocusStirling Management School supports the development of students by providing skills-based and career planning workshops, to give them a significant advantage in the job market. The excellent links the School maintains with its alumni and the business community not only offers students the opportunity to learn from a wide range of visiting speakers with years of industry experience, but

also to take advantage of the business mentoring, company-based projects, internships and graduate opportunities. In the first six months of 2013, over 90,000 new ventures were created, a 3.4% increase on 2012. According to the Entrepreneurs Index report from Barclays and Business Growth Fund, the number of active businesses in the UK has reached 2.82m. We look at four Stirling graduates from across the decades and their entrepreneurial aspirations.


Jock ScottBA Philosophy 1982Mediator, Abune

fter 25 years in human resources, I wanted to use this experience to do something different.

I’m a bit of a change junkie and like the challenge of developing and maintaining relationships in the most difficult of circumstances. I’m used to dealing with difficult organisational problems and understand the enormous pressures they put on both management and the individuals involved. And I have been involved in countless disputes. So I trained as mediator. Abune (www.abune.org) brings together two or more parties who are in a dispute and I facilitate a discussion between them to resolve their differences without further litigation. It’s a bit like family therapy for organisations.

Stirling and the Philosophy degree changed my life. It opened up the world for me in any number of ways. I grew up in a coal-mining community in Scotland, and coming to Stirling took me on a long journey of discovery. The late seventies and early eighties were a time of great political activism and I loved it. I was involved with all sorts of political, cultural and musical activities.

Since then, the three things that helped me most in my life were my studies, a lot of luck and a determination to do different things. From January 2010 until June 2013 I lived in the Middle East. I was HR director for PwC and based in Amman, Jordan, covering 12 countries with responsibility for 2,700 people before and during the Arab Spring. I started my first business in 1997. I started my second business in 2014 upon return from the Middle East. Running my own business means I’m responsible for everything and don’t have the routine of a typical day or a team of colleagues around me. All of it is positive, if a little daunting on occasion. My advice to new graduates would be: don’t get stuck with a fixed career plan, be prepared to try different things and don’t be afraid. Don’t worry too much about money and job titles; that will sort itself if it’s important to you.”

A

“Running my own business means I’m responsible for everything and don’t have the routine of a typical day or a team of colleagues around me.”

“


Barbara SchindelhauerMSc Public Relations & Business Administration 1992Director, ifvl

hat I do today is by and large a result of chance from quite a few years ago. When on parental

leave, I came across a scientific study called 'Let’s Visit Numberland'. It was a new way of introducing children to maths and it appeared so natural and embracing. Having carried it out with simple props at home with my own two children, I experienced how completely absorbed they were and soon wanted to get involved. Subsequently, I founded the Institute for Preschool Learning together with Dr Gerhard Friedrich, the author of the study. I did not have a degree in education, but both PR and business turned out to be of great importance. After all, as the concept started to gain momentum, it was basically about a product that I wanted to market. I had to ask myself, “who are my customers?” and “how can I help them?”. There is no denying that the process of expanding the project is highly demanding and it certainly does not make me rich. But at the same time, watching it expand is sometimes very rewarding and I can safely say that I love what I am doing. I never planned for any of this to happen and I think my advice for other graduates relates to this: do not plan too far ahead. Keep an open mind and grab the opportunities that present themselves. Sometimes, this leads to great things.

Before I came to Stirling, I studied business and psychology in Germany, where I am from. In Stirling I did an MSc in Public Relations. I remember being the first German woman to get that degree. It was all very exciting. When I came back to Germany after my year in Stirling, I started working for Procter and Gamble. It is a very popular company for business students, as the training they offer is of high quality and has a great reputation. It was very demanding and is one of those places where you have to offer a lot, but in the end you gain just as much.”

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“I came across a scientific study called 'Let’s Visit Numberland'. It was a new way of introducing children to maths and it appeared so natural and embracing.”

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Barbara founded the Institute of Preschool Learning after trying a new teaching method with her children.


Caspian WoodsBSc Business Studies 1991Managing Director, Editions Publishing Limited

started my first business publishing yearbooks in my final year at Stirling. I went on exchange to the

University of Kansas and yearbooks were a big feature of life for American students. It was hectic trying to combine it with my final exams but it worked and I decided to keep going after graduation. With business, you need to get practical experience. It’s useful to have a bit of background but you really must try it for yourself.

Later, I started another business, Editions Financial, doing content marketing for financial brands which I sold last year. I’m still working for the company and my interest at the moment is marketing technology. I also advise a number of graduates who have set up their own businesses. A couple of years ago I wrote a start-up guide, From Acorns for the Prince’s Trust which was published by the Financial Times. I’ve since written three more books about the things you won’t learn from textbooks. I really want to get more people starting up businesses, particularly young graduates. If you look at many of the world’s biggest companies – Google, Facebook, Twitter – they tend to be started by people in their early twenties. It’s much easier with no mortgage or children. I also think young people see things differently and are more willing to break the rules. You have to make lots of mistakes. It really is a matter of persistence.

What really attracted me to Stirling was that the University is quite entrepreneurial. I really like the semester system and all the different modules. It means everyone is in one big melting pot. And the partying! From an entrepreneurial point of view, it’s important to mix with lots of people with different ideas. When I did yearbooks, I made them for many other universities and few seemed to have that kind of experience. That’s something I love about Stirling.”

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“I really want to get more people starting up businesses, particularly young graduates.”

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Caspian credits Stirling's diversity and entrepreneurial spirit for launching his career in publishing.


New quartet brings campus to a crescendoThere was quite a stir on campus when Scotland’s top string ensemble, Edinburgh Quartet, launched a new residency at the University of Stirling in September.

he group provided an invaluable musical contribution to various events throughout the year

including the Japanese Week celebrations and the Student Union’s RATE Awards ceremony. From giving music education workshops to the university’s primary education students to performing a number of concerts, it was a fantastic first year for their Stirling residency.

As one of the foremost chamber ensembles in Britain, Edinburgh Quartet has worked with many of the UK’s most important contemporary composers as part of its commitment to supporting and nurturing talent and championing new music. The ensemble was founded at the University of Edinburgh in 1960 has since performed all over the world.

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Edinburgh Quartet at the RATE awards.

New archives added to Stirling collection

he University of Stirling is home to a large archive collection that is used by students, members of staff, academics

and members of the public for their research. The archives cover a wide range of subjects including history and politics, literature, film and media, and sport. University Archivist, Karl Magee, says of the three new archives (the Iain Banks collection, the Jack McConnell papers and the Commonwealth Games archive): “All three are very poignant to this university and Scotland.

Banks and McConnell are both alumni and the Commonwealth Games is a big focus for Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence. “We have some original pieces of Iain Banks’ writing and also Jack McConnell’s speeches in the collections. “The Commonwealth Games archive documents over 80 years of international sporting competition and contains things like correspondence, reports, photographs and memorabilia relating to the participation of Scottish teams at Commonwealth Games.”

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“We have some original pieces of Iain Banks’ writing and also Jack McConnell’s speeches in the collections."


Following the refurbishment of the library a few years ago, the archives have gone from strength to strength.


Japanese week


Celebrating Japanese food, culture and music

of calligraphy using traditional ink and brushes and proudly took their masterpieces home at the end of the day. Other members of the audience joined our Japanese language taster classes to learn the basics of the language. Another popular event was the koto concert with Dr Taeko Seki, alumna and honorary graduate playing the koto. She was joined by Ms Reiko Iwata, koto teacher and musician, and by students from Waseda University, Ms Akane Kida, Ms Mai Ogane and Ms Mizuho Suzuki. They were joined by Ms Shima Kobayashi, world champion harmonica player. Held from 25–30 March, the 17 separate events were well attended and attracted an audience of staff, students, alumni, retired members of staff and members of the local community. The University is grateful to the Consulate General of Japan for their very generous donation of sushi at our opening events and for the support of our other partners: the Japan Scotland Association, the Japan Society of Scotland, the Japan Society (UK) and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation.For more photos, go to http://stir.ac.uk/ib

he Pathfoot Building resonated to new sights, sounds and aromas as we welcomed guests to Japanese Week.

The programme of events included film, traditional art forms such as calligraphy and the Japanese tea ceremony, the music of the koto and the Japanese drums, lectures on economics and art, and the chance to sample Japanese delicacies. Introduced by Dr Stephen Baker (Scottish Development International, Japan), Mr Jun Arima, Director General of JETRO London, gave the Opening Talk on ‘The Japanese economy - Abenomics and energy policy challenges’. Mr Arima presented major elements of Japan’s Growth Strategy and their progress and challenges in terms of energy supply security, economic efficiency and climate change mitigation. The most popular events were the ‘hands-on’ sessions. At the calligraphy workshop, audience members had the chance to learn the rudiments

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A programme of practical workshops, authentic cuisine and prestigious lectures made sure there was something for everyone.


02 A MOUND WITH A VIEW

Viking graves are scattered all over the North and West of Scotland. So far, most research has focussed upon the grave goods and dating the burials. Now, Dr Shane McLeod is visiting Viking burial mounds across Scotland in a bid to discover why the Norse invaders chose those locations for their funerals and what that choice might say about their origin. So far, Shane has found that the Vikings conducted their burials not only in proximity to water, but also close to earlier man-made landscape features like mounds or Christian cemeteries. He suspects that the invaders wanted to associate themselves with the indigenous peoples, even though those had not been their own ancestors. And there’s another finding: “Views from the burial sites were perhaps just as important as the burial itself,” says Dr McLeod. In future, the Australian would like to expand the research geographically to include England and Ireland, as well as increasing the popularity of Norse heritage; his slogan: ‘Visit Vikings in Scotland’.

01 FIGHT OR FLIGHT?

Dr Orly Razgour is trying to predict the genetic response of bats to future climate change. To be able to make accurate predictions, she is examining how bat species responded to past and present climate change to extrapolate information on how they might adapt and behave in the future. A change in temperature would mean that some of their current habitats could become unsuitable. “Whether species will be able to survive depends on their ability to shift their range and move away from these areas to more northern latitudes,” Dr Razgour explains. “The problem is, in those areas there is a lot of agricultural intensification, urbanisation and quite extensive habitat loss. This means that their ability to establish new habitats is quite limited.” Bats consume a lot of agricultural pests so their moving to other areas would have a substantial effect on food security. This research could also prove important to bat conservation as it offers possible solutions to how we can ensure that bats will reach their new habitats. Dr Razgour says: “Change is already happening, and we are now seeing some evidence of a northern shift in the distribution of the species.”

The prestigious Impact Fellowship Programme provides positions for outstanding early career researchers. The fellowships help participants embark on an independent research career, with a view to progressing to lecturer upon completion. Here, four of the Impact Fellows highlight their topic of research.

Research with impact 01

02


03 SPIRITUALITY AND MATERIALISM

Dr Elizabeth Anderson is an Impact Fellow who manages to combine her interests in theology and literature by looking at what connects people and objects in the work of four modernist female writers: Virginia Woolf, Mary Butts, H.D. and Gwendolyn Brooks. For the researcher, it is particularly interesting to look at these four writers because they are grappling with the same issues as people today. In her current research, she analyses the relevance of material culture and spiritual identity in 20th century women writers, and how ordinary material things can have a spiritual resonance in literature. She explains: “For example, in the work of H.D. there’s a table that once belonged to William Morris, and that’s the table she uses during spiritual séances. It’s just an ordinary object, but because of who it belonged to in the past, it gets a spiritual significance.” Another example is an essay by Virginia Woolf in which she describes an ordinary walk through the city in order to buy a pen at a stationary shop. It’s a sort of urban pilgrimage and the pencil gives her the reason to make the journey, therefore becoming more than just an object.

04 DEFEATING LYME DISEASE WITH MATHS

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infectious disease in Europe and North America, with an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 cases each year in the UK. By using mathematical population models of sheep ticks, Dr Andrew Dobson is trying to predict the effects of environmental change on disease risks for humans. He is interested in researching the ways in which pathogen, vector and host interact with the environment to influence disease risk in humans. He says: “Ticks are everywhere and there is no reason to suppose that the disease is not everywhere as well. Everybody could get it, so it’s quite important to understand when the peak times are, what will happen if you change landscape management practices, what will happen in future climates.” Besides a small amount of field work, he uses computer model populations, which have the advantage of being in a highly controlled environment. Dr Dobson explains: “I really enjoy trying to turn complex biological systems into relatively simple maths. Using computer model populations means there is a highly controlled environment which can replicate real populations. It’s like doing field work inside a computer.”

03 04


his year the scheme is aimed at second and third year students in the School of Arts and Humanities. Journalism, History,

English, Criminology and Film and Media students looking for advice in their chosen field, have been paired with the University’s graduates in a similar profession. Mentors are encouraging students to talk about their career choices and ambitions; providing advice on graduate recruitment schemes; how to search and apply for suitable jobs; how to write CVs and prepare for interviews; and also providing an insight into the world of work and a particular industry. Bianca Smith, a 2nd year Film and Media student said: “I’m interested in a career in advertising and I’m hoping that taking part in the mentoring project will give me a clearer vision of what I want out of my University course and how it can help me get to the profession I would like to be in.” She continued: “It has been really useful hearing from Kevin and I now have a better understanding of the career I would like to go into and how it functions. He’s also helped me to find out about the job market in general.” Kevin Condron, a History graduate from 1990 who works in marketing for IBM Consulting is mentoring Bianca. He said: “I was a mentor for the School last year and it’s great to be involved in the project again. Bianca and I have had several discussions (both face to face and over the phone) as well as a number of emails between us.

“Bianca is very interested in a career in advertising and I've been able to put her in touch with contacts I have in this area. This will help to give her better insight into what advertising is all about and how companies and advertising agencies interact.”

Alumni Mentoring Programme

This summer marks the third year of Stirling's innovative Alumni Mentoring Programme, in which a record number of alumni volunteered to help students plan for their careers.

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The project will be offered to students in the School of Applied Social Science in the autumn semester. Would you like to be an alumni mentor next time? If you are a Criminology, Sociology, or Social Policy graduate, we would like to hear from you. Visit http://stir.ac.uk/dg or email [email protected] for more information.


WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Thank you for sending me your class notes. If you have news to share, email me, Jennifer Forman, Alumni Relations Manager, at: [email protected]

CLASS NOTES

2010sGRAEME BLAIR, BSC COMPUTING SCIENCE 2013I’m now in full-time employment as a SAS programmer for a pharmaceutical company called Cromsource.

GERARD JONES, MSC PERFORMANCE COACHING 2013I'm one of the UK's leading football performance coaches working as an academy coach at Rochdale AFC and a Grassroots Football Ambassador for Adidas UK. In 2013 the Clydesdale Bank and the Yorkshire Bank named me among the ‘Top 6 Yorkshire-based Entrepreneurs 2013’. You can read my story at www.gerardschooloffootball.com

CHIARA PALIERI, BA (HONS) INTERNATIONAL POLITICS 2013I have spoken at many conferences and I am one of the IELTS Global testimonials. This video was recorded at my graduation last summer: http://stir.ac.uk/hz

INDIBAR GHOSH, MSC ENERGY MANAGEMENT 2012I am self-employed and my business is called Winners' Academy & Education Institute. My office is based in Mumbai, India, but operates globally in the field of education and training specialised in the power and energy sector. We conduct Executive Development Programmes and provide facilitators for various technical and management training programmes. You can find out more at www.thewinners.co.in

RIDDHI SHAH (NÉE LESHWALA), MBA CORPORATE FINANCE 2011I married Punil Shah on 17 February 2012 in India.

ZIXIN WANG, MSC INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING & FINANCE 2010I come from Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China. Although I only spent one year in Stirling, I have many precious memories and I became more positive and independent both in research and daily life. Now I work for Dihon Pharmaceutical Group as Deputy Manager of Group Budget & Treasury Department.

2000sKEITI PRICE, MLITT THE GOTHIC IMAGINATION 2009I recently had my first novel published, Yours Truly, Cardwell B. Find out more about Izzie Green and her dream job at Poe, the US’s popular television show at http://stir.ac.uk/ic

EMMANUEL CELE, MSC ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2007I am now based at the North West University in South Africa, doing a PhD in Environmental Science.


> Class Notes. Continued.

ROBERT HUDD, BA (HONS) BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT 2006Jenny and I were married in a beautiful service at St Lawrence Church, Alton in Hampshire on 12 April 2014 and we’re living in our new home around the corner from the church. I’m working at the University of Surrey

and we’re enjoying settling into our new routine and having a little less planning to do! We hope to visit Stirling in the near future, so that I can introduce Jenny to the magnificent scenery.

NEIL DORRIAN, BSC (HONS) MARINE BIOLOGY 2006With a fellow Stirling graduate, Lorenzo Scala, our new organisation 'Whalefish' recently launched alongside our website. Our aim is to improve marine conservation awareness by transmitting the research of our scientists and collaborators from the field to the public. We also provide a platform to network for conservation projects, volunteer and job opportunities within the scientific community. Find out more about us at www.whalefish.org

VITO MILAZZO, BA (HONS) FILM & MEDIA STUDIES 2004Due to lack of funding in Scotland, I decided to part with my own cash to film the first few pages of a script I have written about a struggling writer whose creations come to life. Using a RED Epic cinema camera (which was also used on Scotland-shot Hollywood blockbusters like ‘Fast & Furious 6’ and ‘Prometheus’), we filmed the first few minutes of the script and hope to raise more finance using crowdfunding to finish the film. If you are interested in finding out more, go to: igg.me/at/writersblockthemovie

GAVIN BELL, BA (HONS) ENGLISH/FILM & MEDIA STUDIES 2000My debut novel, The Killing Season, was published in April this year under my pseudonym Mason Cross. Find out more about it at http://stir.ac.uk/hy

1990sKRISHNAMURTHY THAKUR, MSC MEDIA MANAGEMENT 1998After I left the University, I always wanted to return. My business conducts a Business Quiz in London for the TATA Group for University campuses across Europe. I joined the team from India

and extended my stay to visit the University last November. I was lucky to visit during a sunny day and wandered around the campus taking many pictures. You never can have enough of Stirling. Thanks to Kerry, Jennifer and Suzie – the team at Stirling who made my visit memorable. I wish to have a class get together of MSc Media Management 1997. Get in touch with me at [email protected]

HONEY KALARIA, MSC PUBLIC RELATIONS 1997I am a dancer, choreographer and Bollywood specialist and have been involved in many films such as ‘Bombay Dreams’, ‘Merchants of Bollywood’ and ‘Bride and Prejudice’. I launched Honey’s Dance

Academy in 1997 and it is one of the UK’s first Bollywood dance and performing arts training institutions. Find out more at http://stir.ac.uk/hx


Stan Shires and new puppy Phoenix.

STAN SHIRES, BA (HONS) MARKETING 1994The Class of '94 celebrated 20 years since graduation with a reunion in Stirling in April. We had a great turn out with about 25 people. Some of us met in the Med on Friday evening – wow, that has changed since our day! On Saturday some of the group met in the Students’ Union Bar. Wow, that has changed too! Timmy Stevenson, Jareth McCready and me played a round of golf on the University course. Then we all linked up at the Union bar! After many rounds (including some with Jennifer Forman), we went via the Med to Bridge of Allan for a meal. The night finished with a dance til the early hours. Happy days!

DR ELIZABETH BIRCHALL, PHD 1993

I gained a PhD as a by-product of my work as a Research Fellow working with Christine Hallett, who later became Stirling’s Vice-Chancellor. The Department of Health-funded project investigated aspects

of interprofessional co-operation in managing child abuse. It was in fact the swansong of my career as a social work practitioner and manager. Recently I have been researching and writing a book on the place of bees in human thought, ranging from Sumerian clay tablets through religious and political metaphor to fine art and modern science. The richly illustrated In Praise of Bees: a Cabinet of Curiosities was published by Quiller Publishing last year.

ANNE STOREY, BA ENGLISH STUDIES 1990I have a novel being published and hope that it will be debuted at Bloody Scotland later this year! Please see the link to my publisher at http://stir.ac.uk/hw

1980sCONOR MARK JAMESON, BA FILM & MEDIA STUDIES 1988Initially I enrolled for an Ecology degree but it became clear I was more a science communicator than a field researcher. I changed courses, taking advantage of the flexible system at Stirling, and the kindness of Professor John Izod. I've worked in conservation since then and have written the books Silent Spring Revisited and Looking for the Goshawk. My latest book came out in spring, a journal on living with nature and called Shrewdunnit. There's the odd reference to Stirling in this one too.

ALEX SMITH, VISITING STUDENT 1988I was an exchange student from University of California Berkeley and studied Literature and Film Studies. I wrote, produced and directed the feature film ‘Winter in the Blood’, an adaptation of the landmark Native American novel by James Welch. The film, an intimate epic cosmic cowboy Indian odyssey, has won several awards and played at over 30 film festivals. For more info: www.winterintheblood.com. I'd love to figure out a way to show the film to students at Stirling at some point... it has yet to have its Scottish premiere.

DAVID GOLDSTEIN, VISITING STUDENT 1987

I recently won recognition from Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County for my service on that organisation's

board of directors. More information can be found at http://stir.ac.uk/hv



CONRAD RAFIQUE, BA ACCOUNTANCY 1987

I completed a total career transition from the corporate world to being a Fitness and

Motivation Coach. I qualified with the prestigious European Institute of Fitness based at Lilleshall National Sports Centre and opened my PT Clinic on the Wirral in April. I have a special interest in preventative medicine through exercise and also work with aspiring runners and triathletes. Find out more at www.rockmountain.co.uk

SAHR TUMOE, DIP TECHNOLOGICAL ECONOMICS 1985I was appointed Managing Director of the Sierra Leone National Telecommunications Company in 1994. I later became Managing Director of the combined National and International Telecommunications Company (SIERRATEL) and retired in 2000. I was appointed Commissioner of Sierra Leone's Telecommunications Regulatory Body, NATCOM, in 2007 and retired in 2011. I am currently a consultant to NATCOM, setting up a nationwide emergency toll-free number service in Sierra Leone.

DR GRAHAM CLAYTON, BSC DIP ED 1985After Stirling, I completed my PhD in Plymouth. For just over two years I have been CEO of the Society of Dyers & Colourists and am happy to hear from Stirling Minds with colour interests. The big news this year is my middle son has chosen a really good University to attend from September – Stirling – so we will 'have to' make lots of trips back. I hope my son enjoys Stirling as much as we did.

DR PERRY IP, PGDIP ACCOUNTANCY & FINANCE 1984I am now working as a Master/Doctoral dissertation supervisor in both Hong Kong and Macao. I am also the Chief Editor of China and World Highlights which has connections with over 400 Chinese media around the world.

AIK LEOW, BA ACCOUNTANCY 1981

After graduating, I spent the next three years in Edinburgh to train as a Chartered Accountant.

Following qualification, I worked in Singapore and, after a few years, decided to migrate and settled down in Sydney, Australia. I never managed to go back to Scotland, despite numerous business trips to Europe and London over the years. That was until recently when I went to London, I decided that a trip to my beloved Scotland was long overdue. So, after more than 30 years, there I was, back at the University and it was truly a trip down memory lane for me.

JANE SENKAYA (NÉE KISTOWSKA), BSC PSYCHOLOGY 1981After gaining a PhD in Psychology, I worked as a consultant for the NHS. I met my husband on holiday in Turkey and for the last 20 years we have run our business offering sailing holidays and team-building group experiences on our boat around the Turkish coastline and Greek Islands. We have two teenage daughters and the eldest will study at the University of Edinburgh this summer. Hopefully, she will also study at Stirling. If so, this will be the third generation of my family to have links with the University as my father was involved with the design of the Pathfoot Building. I can be contacted at www.senkaya-tourism-turkey.com/index.htm


Joe, Nina and their daughter, Alice Rose.

1970sMICHAEL TEARE, BA BIOLOGY 1975

After completing a PhD in estuarine ecology I changed direction and spent 30 years in sales/management roles within the international medical device industry. I’m living in France and running my own

consultancy business. Returning to my research roots I've been following up my Manx origins and the role of the family business, Teare and Sons, sail makers and ships chandler in the development of the 19th century Manx fishing industry. More information at http://teareandsons.com

PAUL MARTIN, BA GENERAL 1973

Having started Brig in 1969, supervised its first content and print run as founding editor, I love following it on Twitter (@brignewspaper) 45 years later. Well done to all who kept my initial idea alive over those many

years and here's to a bright digital future together.

JENNY HARPER, BA ENGLISH 1972

I’m writing contemporary women’s fiction novels. Kate Courtenay is a wind farm engineer who finds herself in a tricky position – she discovers that her charismatic novelist husband is spending more and more of his time with a young fan. In despair, Kate throws herself into her

work, a controversial wind farm that’s stirring up tempers in the local community. Sparks fly when she goes head to head against the wind farm's most outspoken opponent, local gardener Ibsen Brown – a man with a past of his own. Read more at http://stir.ac.uk/i4

PATRICIA HESS, BA ECONOMICS 1974After varied careers in housing management and public relations in Scotland, and lots of travelling in Asia and Europe, I am now an independent retailer, based in Perth, selling Harris Tweed items handmade in Scotland. We also have a website at www.harristocracy.co.uk

Contacting friendsPETE SMITH, MSC ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2001 would like to get in touch with Matthew Cross, BA (Hons) Religious Studies 2003.

CHRIS BAKER, BA DIP ED ENGLISH & EDUCATION 1997 would like to get in touch with Darren Coleman, BA (Hons) Economics & German 1997.

HON MAN (RICKY) LEUNG, MSC TECHNOLOGICAL ECONOMICS 1986 is looking for Astril Fitrie, MSc Technological Economics 1986.

JANE MACKAY-BISHOP, BA ENGLISH 1983 would like to get in touch with Adam Turner, BSc Biology 1984.

CATHERINE BROWN (NÉE KIDD), BA ENGLISH 1978 would like to get in touch with Frank Flynn, Moira Mann and Catherine Rutherford, all from 1978.

HEATHER HYAMS (NÉE MCKINNEY), BA DIP ED ENGLISH & GERMAN 1977 is looking for Morag Sim, BA German 1975.

DR ZIYA HAQ, PHD CHEMISTRY 1976 would like to get in touch with Janice Law, BA Psychology 1976.

If you know their whereabouts, drop us an email at [email protected]



CondolencesThe University regrets to announce the following deaths:

SUE LAYTON, MBA RETAILING 2012

STEVEN MCARTHUR, BA FILM & MEDIA STUDIES 2004

DAVID PATERSON, ACCOUNTANCY STUDENT 1985

ALEXANDRA RAMSAY, BA DIP ED ENGLISH 1979

LINDA HUNTER, BA SOCIOLOGY 1975

DAVID MACANDREW, BA SOCIOLOGY 1974

IAIN JOHNSTON, BA MATHEMATICS 1973

ELIZABETH KYLES (NÉE DOBNEY), BA SOCIOLOGY 1972

DR AUGUSTO ODONE, DUNIV 1991

MARIE COTTRELL, WIDOW OF THE UNIVERSITY’S FIRST PRINCIPAL, PROFESSOR TOM COTTRELL

JOHN RUSSELL, RETIRED MEMBER OF STAFF

JOCK SCOTT, MA AND FORMER SENIOR TECHNICIAN IN DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

Updating your detailsRemember to let us know when you change address! You can do this by completing the form at http://stir.ac.uk/dh or by emailing [email protected]

Lost alumniAre you in touch with many of your Stirling friends? Do you know if they’re not receiving any emails and news from us? We are embarking on a major campaign to find some alumni from the 1980s and 1990s whom we’ve lost touch with. If you can help us with this, email [email protected]

Keeping in touchYou can also catch up with old friends on our social networking groups. Simply follow the links from: www.stir.ac.uk/alumni

Stirling University Alumni

University of Stirling Alumni

University of Stirling Alumni – California Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – Central Scotland Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – Cyprus Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – Edinburgh Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – France Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – Germany Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – Glasgow Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – Greece Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – Hong Kong Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – Illinois Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – India Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – London Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – Malaysia Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – New York Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – Nigeria Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – Washington DC Chapter University of Stirling Alumni – Washington State Chapter Stirling Grads Down Under!

And for those of you from the 1970s and 1980s:

University of Stirling in the 1970s University of Stirling from the early 1980’s University of Stirling in the late 80’s


Update on University Court

hilst many alumni will be aware of the Court of the University, I suspect that most will not have much of an

idea of what the Court does.

Court is a group that includes the University's senior management team, representatives from the staff, the Students’ Union and a number of lay members from outside the University population. Court meets four times per year and oversees the effective running of the University. In other words, it’s similar to a Board of Directors in a commercial organisation. In addition, there are various sub-groups which examine key issues and bring forward recommendations to the Court for consideration and approval. The latest meeting of the University Court focused largely on future planning – budgets, investment priorities, planning for academic success and the University's international strategy. Another excellent aspect of being a member of Court is the opportunity to learn more about the work being done across the University community. Prior to every meeting there is a visit to a school or department where members get insights into the fantastic work being done in areas such as Applied Social Science, Aquaculture and the Art Collection. There is never enough time to cover everything on a visit – but the initial insight is invaluable.

Kevin Condron BA (Hons) History 1990Alumni Representative on University Court

Alumni Ambassador of the Year Award

he University is proud of the achievements of its alumni and this award is one of the ways we

celebrate the difference our volunteers make in the UK and overseas.

It is awarded to the alumnus who has met the following criteria:

• Level of engagement with the University, students and alumni

• Number of hours given to the Alumni Ambassador Programme• Contribution to the Alumni Relations Office.

We are delighted to announce the award for 2013-2014 goes to Amanda Bouin. As the main contact in Paris, Amanda has organised several reunions over the last six years. She said: “When your son starts applying for university, you realise the years have well and truly flown by since your own university days. It seems only yesterday that I was having some of the best years of my life at Stirling. Therefore, I was happy to volunteer as an Ambassador for the University in France and have really enjoyed meeting so many French graduates of all ages over the years. We organise yearly reunions and try and keep our French Chapter alive so that we can continue to bring together many more alumni and build up a real French Stirling network that can be both useful and fun!”

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Making their mark IN MALAYSIA

Zainora Abdul TalibMSc International Accounting and Finance 2008Head of Internal Audit DepartmentUniversiti Putra Malaysia

y husband and I dreamed about visiting the UK either for a holiday or study, particularly the

countryside with its beautiful scenery and historic castles. When my husband was offered the chance to study there, we chose Stirling because of its academic reputation and safe campus to raise our children.

My first degree is in Accounting and it was natural to further my study either completing the MBA or MSc in International Accounting and Finance. I studied with classmates from different countries – Shihilani (Sri Lanka), Jinan (Oman), Maurice (Colombia) and Safrul (Malaysia). This broadened my perspectives on working together regardless of age, background and culture. Being a mature student, it was also a challenge to balance my role as a mother and a student especially as my husband was also studying. We lived in Cumbernauld, around 30 minutes' drive from the University and I enjoyed the views during the daily commute to and from Stirling. My children enjoyed their school life and managed to mingle among their Scottish friends and even pick up a few words of Scottish slang! We returned to Malaysia in June 2011. I continue my career as internal auditor and I am also involved in the Quality Assessment Improvement Programme for Internal Auditors together with Internal Audit Departments from Malaysia’s Public Universities. My family and I love to travel. We went on a snorkelling trip to Perhentian Island, one of the best snorkelling sites in Malaysia, in 2013 and had a holiday in Australia earlier this year. Visiting Australia is like going back to Scotland as there are places with the same name – we found Stirling during our trip to Adelaide Hills. Our next trip is to Mabul Island for our snorkelling expedition and maybe I will try diving.

M

“When my husband was offered the chance to study there, we chose Stirling because of its academic reputation and safe campus to raise our children.”


Making their mark IN MALAYSIA

Datu Dr HJ PhD Business Studies 1994Director and Adviser to Chief Minister’s DepartmentSarawak

was a Superintendent in the police force when I was sponsored by the Malaysian government

to do a PhD at the University of Stirling. During my PhD studies, I audited law class papers at Dundee University. I sat for law exams, passed my compulsory exams and was conferred with a LLB degree. I also obtained my MBA from Brunel University.

My highest rank in the Police was Deputy Commissioner and I am also an advocate and solicitor of Malaya. For over 10 years, I have been State Director and Advisor in State security matters for the Sarawak area. The role of this unit encompasses all aspects on security including the social, economic, political, environment, and physical security. One of my remits includes the management of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). This is the sub-group of the State Crisis Management Committee and comprises representatives from the government, local leaders, fire department, civil defence department and local people. Together we work towards creating better operational procedures in times of disasters and crises.

I I am also a part-time lecturer and a senior research fellow at our State Centres for Modern Management and was conferred a five-star rated resource person for the last three years for the Centre. The Centre offers training for all government staff and officers for the State of Sarawak. I last visited the Stirling campus in 1995 with my family and friends. I have quite a number of friends from Stirling and they have visited me and family in Malaysia. I hope to return and take a fellowship programme at the University since I have lovely memories of Stirling. It is always the spirit of Wallace!

Datuk Dr HJ Yusoff Nook


Alumni often ask what happened to tutors, professors, porters and cleaners – people across the University that made the Stirling experience special.

Where are they now?


began my career at Stirling on a part- time basis and then became full-time in 1979. In the early 80s, my husband

and I went on secondment to Malawi for around two years. The University was hit particularly hard by Thatcher’s cuts and had to look for ways to save money. We got a letter from the Principal asking if we could possibly go anywhere on secondment and if we could, to please go.

I had a look at the THES and there were two jobs in the English Department in the University of Malawi. We had some friends who were already there working at the University, so I thought why not? It will be fun and we went. It was a very interesting experience. I was teaching what was then called Commonwealth Literature and is now called Post-Colonial Writing and I felt that to understand African writing I needed to have direct experience of living in that situation. Over the years at Stirling I had the pleasure of working with many impressive academics; I learnt a lot about poetry from Alasdair Macrae and Rory Watson. I also had the pleasure of teaching Jackie Kay MBE, (a now famous Scottish poet and novelist). Some years later her novel was a set text. She came to the University and gave a talk to students on all aspects of what it is like to write for a living. It was great to have such a successful graduate of Stirling come back to inspire students who were currently studying English Studies.

When I retired I felt there was something missing and I started an organisation called SURSA (Stirling University Retired Staff Association). SURSA is there for retired staff members from the University to use to meet up with former colleagues or make new friends. There are around 140 members and we have more joining every year; we have a gardens group, a walking group, book groups and many others. It’s a great way for us all to keep in touch and keep active in retirement.”

SURSA has a variety of events, groups and workshops for retired University staff. Find out more at www.sursa.org.uk

I

Emeritus Professor Angela SmithRetired member of staffEnglish Studies1970 – 2006

“

Angela (second right) and SURSA friends.


> Where are they now? Continued.

Peter is behind the Archive Programme ‘Scottish Referendum Experience’, bringing together a variety of information to make a fair and balanced archive regarding the Scottish Referendum.

came here on a two-year contract and thought I’d be here a few years and then leave. When I came here many

staff had been here right from the beginning and would share stories of the history of the buildings. Things have changed over the years, you don’t quite realise and then one day you turn around and you’ve been here for 20 years.

I remember my first day very well; the Pathfoot building had a lot more teaching space and my office used to be part of an old seminar room. I could never find it and I ended up having to put a yellow poster in the glass of my office door so I could remember which office was mine. The campus is stunning and unlike any other I had ever been to. These surroundings give people a completely different experience. Students are the best thing about Stirling; they are a pleasure to teach. It’s hard to generalise about who comes to Stirling but there have always been a lot of mature students over the years. I remember one who was 85 years old and was a retired army major. And then there are the students who are local to the University, both groups are different, but they are also great to teach. I also had a group of Master's students that I remember very well. I started to bring chocolates to the class to relax them and this became a tradition. Soon the students started to bake every week and share their consortium of baked goods. That was my fat year on the MSc!”

Dr Peter LynchSenior LecturerPolitics and History1994 – Present

I“

www.flickr.com/photos/scottishpoliticalarchive/www.facebook.com/pages/scottishpoliticalarchive

raduates from the 1980s share their memories of Maisie who ran the bar in the Grange – a

popular haunt for students in those days.

Billy GilmourBA History 1988

“I first met Maisie, when I played 12 string acoustic in her wine bar at the Grange which in those days always seemed to have an audience of around a dozen people. Later, when the Robbins was converted, I was one of the original founder members of the new Folk Club – with John Boyd, Dave Maclean and Val Hendry. I also started work in the new bar with Maisie and she would often vamp on the old piano after closing time whilst everyone else was tidying up! We loved her dearly. Eventually we talked her into doing a ‘spot’ at one of the ‘Mayhem at Maisie's’ events. This was started by Will Goodall, who played lead guitar in Cosa Nostra, a campus Blues Brothers tribute band – John and I were the singers. Maisie agreed as long as I would sing. We did Strangers in the Night, Chanson D'amour, and she also played ‘a selection of songs from the 1940s, folks’ such as 42nd Street. There were around 130 people at these shows and were a 'tickets only' affair. These are unforgettable memories, and of course, the best cheer of any night was reserved for Maisie. At that time there was a satirical trio – Los Trios Sneakos – comprised of students Paul Higgins, Eddie Graham and Andy McPhail. They were great fun and well known around the place. In a nod to this, John Boyd, Davie Douglas and I did a sketch as Los Trios Maisieos – the three Maisies. We each wore one of Maisie's dresses, a blonde wig, bright lipstick and make-up. Maisie, of course, played piano.”

Maisie Slomiany (RIP)Former landlady at the Grange

G Gillian McLaughlinBA DipEd Education & French 1987

“Maisie was a complete legend, so much so that when the Grange closed and she retired we named one of the bars in the Robbins building after her. Her signature concoction was a Moonwalker... a pint of mixed spirits.”

John HarrisonBSc Biology 1983

“Aaahh… Moonwalkers! Up to a pint (in the days when Scotland’s spirit measure was a fifth of a gill). Other than that, everything else is a bit hazy!”

Students pointing up at Maisie's bar.



Events for your diary

RECENT ALUMNI EVENTS

Vive la France, Paris – Thursday 16 JanuaryThe French reunion was again an opportunity to meet new faces. We aim to create a French network for

Stirling’s alumni because higher education networks in France are always influential so we need to make our net 'work' as well. Business cards were exchanged and we hope all present will benefit from this extra opportunity to step back in time whilst looking towards the future. The Thistle pub is always an enjoyable experience and a little moment where you can imagine yourself back in Scotland. Email Amanda Bouin on [email protected] to keep in touch.

A celebration in London – Thursday 27 FebruaryFollowing on from the Queen’s Anniversary Prize ceremony, alumni and guests were invited to a reception at the

Lansdowne Club in London. George Martin, one of our alumni volunteers for the London area, is looking for suggestions and volunteers to help with planning for future alumni gatherings. Email him on [email protected]

Washington DC – Saturday 8 MarchOur volunteers met recently for lunch in the Dupont Café to discuss the types of events the group might run in the future. Email Cristina Rechy Pereda on [email protected] if you’d like to be involved in a future event.

Guangzhou – Saturday 22 MarchThank you to Ning (Eric) Qiang for organising a gathering in the Guangzhou area. A small group of alumni met at

Yuejiang Miku restaurant in Guangzhou. [email protected] if you’d like to be involved in a future event.

First Thursday, London – Thursday 8 MayDe Hems pub was the venue for the ‘First Thursday’ idea. Contact George Martin on [email protected] if you’d like to be added to the guest list for future events.

A trip to the theatre, London – Wednesday 28 MayThank you to John Scott for organising this event. A small group of alumni enjoyed a night at the theatre to see ‘Napoli Milionaria’ by Eduardo de Filippo which was brilliantly acted ‘in the round’.

First Thursday, London – Thursday 5 JuneGraduates met in Jewel, Piccadilly. Contact George Martin on [email protected] if you’d like to be added to the guest list for future events.

Saint Paul, Minnesota – Sunday 3 AugustAs the magazine went to print, Ken Iosso was preparing for a family-friendly barbecue at his home for alumni and their guests. If you’d like to be invited to the next one, email Ken on [email protected]


FORTHCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS

London First Thursdays – First Thursday of every month 2014On the first Thursday of every calendar month there will be the opportunity to ‘drop in’ and catch up with fellow alumni on a more casual basis. Contact [email protected] if you’d like to find out more.

Singapore – Friday 15 August 2014Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerry McCormac, will host an alumni reunion at the Hilton Singapore. The informal drinks reception will take place from 7pm to 8.30pm. Email [email protected] if you would like to attend.

Inverness walks – Autumn 2014Harry Dedecker continues to hill walk most weekends and departs from the University's Inverness campus at Raigmore Hospital. If anyone would like to join him, email [email protected]

Athens – Saturday 11 October 2014Yannis Eliomarkakis and Elpida Dimitriadi would love to see you in Athens in October. Email them on [email protected] and [email protected] for more details.

Edinburgh – Thursday 6 November 2014We will be holding a drinks and canapés reception at the Sheraton Hotel. Email [email protected] if you would like to attend.

All future events are listed at http://stir.ac.uk/dk

CAMPUS EVENTS

Meaningful Activity for People with Dementia – Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 SeptemberThis programme is aimed at activity co-ordinators, occupational therapy assistants, volunteers and others who support people with dementia. For further information, visit http://stir.ac.uk/jd

Women in Sport Conference – Wednesday 8 OctoberThis event, run by the Sports Union, will look at how to empower, equip and enable more women students into sport. For more information, email [email protected]

Open Days – Saturday 20 September and Saturday 1 NovemberSchool pupils, college students and anyone interested in studying at the University is welcome to join us, as well as parents, teachers and career advisers.

We hold tours of the campus, offer presentations, talks and displays. A range of information desks are also available where you can speak to University staff, academics, and current students.

MACROBERT EVENTS

The Ladyboys of Bangkok: Red Hot Kisses – Monday 1 SeptemberGet hot under the collar in this brand new show.

Daniel Sloss – Really? – Friday 26 SeptemberThe smash-hit new show from comedy’s internationally acclaimed and award-winning half-man-half-Xbox.

Sunset Song – Wednesday 1 OctoberThis revival of Lewis Grassic Gibson’s classic marks a hundred years since the start of the First World War.

Female Gothic – Friday 31 OctoberJoin us on Halloween for this literary spine-chiller celebrating lost gothic works from the great Victorian female writers.

Aladdin – Wednesday 26 November – Sunday 4 JanuaryYou think you’ve troubles? You’ve never met the Twankeys.

Visit www.macrobert.org for booking information.

For more information, visit www.stir.ac.uk/events


Thank you to our alumni who supported the Stirling Fund during this year's three-week campaign. The telethon is part of our commitment to stay in regular touch with our graduates.

The campaign is staffed entirely by current students, who update alumni on the latest news from campus, highlight the range of benefits still available to them as alumni (such as access to the library and the sports facilities as well as discounts on accommodation on campus) and finally, discuss the Stirling Fund and the impact of alumni giving on students’ lives. This year, our callers contacted more than 3,000 graduates and raised more than £23,000. Thank you! “Our alumni have been really generous and lovely to talk to! I know that in the future I will look forward to a student calling me and I will be very pleased to support in any way I can.”Natalie SweeneyThird year English Student

“Working on the telephone campaign this year has been a fantastic experience. As a mature student I found that a lot of people I spoke were also mature students and I got a great deal of very useful advice and information on how best to continue in my studies.”Shumela AhmedFirst year Journalism and Politics Student

The Stirling Fund,Making a DifferenceSPRING TELEPHONE CAMPAIGN

Our student callers.

It has been a fantastic year for the fundraising team, securing donations to support a variety of projects.

Sport

We are grateful to the Royal & Ancient, the Macleod Foundation and the Taylor Family Foundation for their on-going support to the scholarship programme. We also introduced two new golf scholarships with grateful thanks to TBR Global Chauffeuring and The Ian Thomson Scholarship supported by alumni and former golf scholars.

The Art Collection

Our collection continues to grow and we received two original artworks by the filmmaker Norman McLaren currently on display at the University. We are also strengthening our public engagement agenda with a grant from The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland and are in year two of support from The Robertson Trust for a Learning and Audience Development Curator.

The University Archives

In the year of Glasgow 2014 we are delighted to become custodians of The Commonwealth Games Scotland Archive documenting over 80 years of international sporting competition. Items from the archive will be exhibited at the University as part of the Glasgow 2014 celebrations, made possible by grants from Commonwealth Games Scotland and the BIG Lottery Fund's 'Celebrate' scheme.

The Students’ Union

Keep Scotland Beautiful supported a Union initiative with a generous grant for an allotment scheme on campus. The project, ‘FEAST – Food Education at Stirling University’, will see the creation of community gardens and allotments on campus.

If you would like further information about any of these projects, contact:

Khlayre Cairney, Head of FundraisingDevelopment & External AffairsUniversity of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LAT: + 44 (0)1786 466675E: [email protected] W: www.stir.ac.uk

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The Stirling Fund is the collective effort of Stirling alumni and friends

De-stress WeekThis formed part of a University-wide initiative to promote good mental health and wellbeing on campus. The Stirling Fund supported the costs of delivering these events and activities for students.

Richard Raymond, Vice-President for Education & Engagement, said of the project’s grant: “Without funding we would not be able to provide such a variety of activities and materials for students. We are very grateful that the Stirling Fund accepted our application and continues to support student-led initiatives, especially around the mental health and wellbeing of the student body.”

THE IMPACT OF THE STIRLING FUND

Lift OffLift Off, a project run by the Career Development Centre (CDC) received Stirling Fund support for a series of interactive confidence building workshops. Students were provided with a toolkit of lifelong skills that will enable them to meet challenges head on and develop transferable employability skills. Lesley Grayburn, joint Head of the CDC, said: “Participating students have demonstrated a higher level of self-value, are more self-aware, have more effective communication skills and are more positive about their future as Stirling graduates.”

Politics SocietyA group of students and members of the Politics Society recently embarked on a cultural, political and historical visit to Berlin thanks to support from the Stirling Fund. Highlights included the Jewish museum, the site of the Berlin wall and the DDR museum. Heather Marr, President of the Politics Society commented: “I would like to thank the Stirling Fund donors on behalf of all of those who visited Berlin; it was a truly memorable experience.”

Stirling graduates have donated almost £325,000 to the Stirling Fund which has made an enormous impact on student life. The funds have helped alleviate student hardship, facilitated international exchanges and supported student clubs and societies. Here are some of the projects funded in the last 12 months.

We are very grateful to all of our donors. Other projects funded include the purchase of a golf scoreboard and underwater hockey goals; start-up costs for the gaming society; and IDEALS Zambia, an initiative enabling nursing and sports students to provide educational and healthcare support to young people in Zambia.Thank you!

“ Thanks to a Santander Universities mobility grant, I was able to travel to Patagonia to begin my research.” James BlaikieMobility grant recipient

The University of Stirling and Santander Universities Global Division began working together in March 2012. In the last two years our partnership has benefitted over 100 students and staff providing 12 scholarships, 45 mobility grants, 45 internships and £30,000 in enterprise funding.

For more information go to: www.santander.co.uk/universities

2014ALUMNI, STAFF AND FRIENDS

MALAYSIAN ALUMNI FOCUS

QUEEN’S ANNIVERSARY PRIZE

GRADUATE ENTREPRENEURS

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1. QS World Rankings 20132. The Times Higher Education 100 Universities Under 50 20133. The Telegraph 20134. Higher Education Statistics Authority 20135. National Student Survey 20136. The Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2014

TOP 2.5% of global higher education institutions

Ranked

1stIN SCOTLAND

TOP12 in the UK for graduate employability

SCOTLAND’SUNIVERSITYfor sportingexcellence

1. 2.

3.

94%

97%

of Stirling graduates

are in employment or further study within six months of graduating

student satisfaction with campus environment

6th 4.

5.

HIGH QUALITY

STAFF/

6.

3rd in UK for good sports facilities6.

in the UK for

www.stir.ac.uk

2014 top 2.5% stirling fund alumni, staff and … · 2014 alumni, staff and friends malaysian...

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